The longest suspensions in professional sports

By Todd Lindeman, Published: Jan. 11, 2014

Select professional athletes who were suspended or banned from their sports. Active players only. Does not include players, such as Pete Rose, who received bans after retirement. Read related article.

Other notable suspensionsViktor TroickiMuhammad AliEric CantonaMerle HapesMariano PuertaArt SchlichterBilly CoutuStanley WilsonAlex RodriguezLenny RandleKermit WashingtonJohn RockerGilbert ArenasLatrell SprewellRon Artest“The Black Sox”Manny RamirezGuillermo MotaNeifi PerezRyan BraunLance ArmstrongATHLETEChris SimonJesse BoulericePaul HornungDonte StallworthPlaxico BurressAlex Karras20131967199519462005YEARATHLETEYEAR1987192719892014197719772000200919972004191920092012200720132012200720071963200920081963100%9%32%9%61%83%91%31%62%49%40%37%31%100%100%225%100%Sources: Real Clear Sports, Bleacher Report, baseball-reference.com, staff reports8 years1 year, six months3 years, 6 months8 months2 yearsSelect professional athletes who were suspended or banned from their sports. Active players only. Does not include players, such as Pete Rose, who received bans after retirement.Longest suspensions in major sportsPERCENTAGE OF SEASONCyclingBaseballFootballHockeyBasketballOther sport162 games152614506886(73 reg. season, 13 playoff)50 1008065LIFETIME BANSNUMBER OF GAMES SUSPENDED (14 or more)NUMBER OF YEARS / MONTHS SUSPENDED3025141636(spans three seasons)14Refused to submit to a blood test during the Monte Carlo Masters. Ban ends Jan. 24, 2015Was found guilty of evading the Vietnam War draft (initially banned for life)Attempted to land a flying “kung-fu” style kick at a fan during a soccer matchWas offered a bribe to fix the championship game against the Chicago Bears (initially banned for life)Suspended initially for eight years — the longest in tennis history — after his second doping violationTennis playerHeavyweight championManchester UnitedNew York GiantsTennis playerPleaded guilty to illegal gamblingGame 4 of Stanley Cup finals, started a bench-clearing brawl, attacked one referee and tackled anotherFound using cocaine — his third league offense — in a hotel bathroom on the eve of Super Bowl XXIIIInitially a 211-game suspension, allegedly violated baseball’s joint drug agreementAttacked his coach after losing his starting role to a rookie, then traded to the Mets as suspension endedPunched two players, injuring one severely, during a gameMade disparaging comments about gays, ethnicities and New Yorkers during an interviewBrandished unloaded guns while arguing with a teammate in team locker roomChoked coach P.J. Carlesimo while shouting death threats at him during practiceCharged into stands, shoved a fan and attempted to fight others on the courtEight players banned for allegedly throwing games for money during the 1919 World SeriesAllegedly used performance-enhancing drugsAllegedly used performance-enhancing drugs, his second infractionTested positive for a banned substance, his third infractionAllegedly used performance-enhancing drugsStripped of his seven Tour de France titles for dopingEarned his eighth career suspension after stomping his skate on the ankle of a fallen Penguins playerLanded a crosscheck to the face of a Canucks playerIndianapolis ColtsBoston BruinsCincinnati BengalsNew York YankeesTexas RangersLos Angeles LakersAtlanta BravesWashington WizardsGolden State WarriorsIndiana PacersChicago White SoxU.S. Postal/DiscoveryLos Angeles DodgersSan Francisco GiantsDetroit TigersMilwaukee BrewersTEAMTEAMNew York IslandersPhiladelphia FlyersSuspended for an entire season for betting on NFL gamesGreen Bay PackersSuspended for an entire season after killing a pedestrian with vehicle while driving intoxicatedCleveland BrownsSuspended last four games for illegal weapons possession and shooting; spent next two seasons in prisonNew York GiantsSuspended for an entire season for betting on NFL gamesDetroit Lions